Foundational principles

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[Speaker 1] We want to give you and all of Queensland's young people a fair chance and easy access to programs and services in your communities.

[Speaker 2] I think that's a pretty fair, fair thing to have like um ... especially around like, healthcare and education access. You know, young people, we face a lot of barriers to gaining the services that we really need. So, anything that can help alleviate some of that stress ... um ... yeah, I think it's a really good initiative.

[Speaker 1] I think coming from a more rural area, it's definitely something that we need to see um, you know there are lots of opportunities that are readily available in the Southeast corner but they're not necessarily available up North, and I think ensuring that we do have the same equity and access everywhere will make miles of difference.

[Speaker 3] I think it's important to make sure that that like equity and access applies across genders, gender identities, races etc as well, like we're seeing lots of opportunities go to I guess the same types of people sometimes ... um ... and so making sure that we're really, yeah making them more open to different kinds of people is really exciting and ... and I'm really excited to see how it plays out over the next few years.

[Speaker 2] Yeah, especially surrounding what you were mentioning before around equity you know, um ... we need to address that there are barriers towards opportunities, and I think a part of that is equity. You know, making sure that we're not treating everyone the same and actually recognising those differences and trying to address them.

[Speaker 1] Yeah, yeah on that removing all stereotypes that come with different things. If everyone's got the same opportunities and access to everything then realistically these stereotypes and expectations will adjust over time and hopefully will mean that everyone feels comfortable to access what's available.

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[Speaker 1] What does informed decision-making mean to you?

[Speaker 2] Informed decision-making is the responsible and ethical collection of data and the way that it is used and shared as well, and that should be protective for young people but also benefit them as well. Why is informed decision-making so important?

[Speaker 1] Um, I think especially for young Queenslanders it's important that we not only have a say in things that um, have an effect towards us but also have an understanding of it.

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[Speaker 1] The Young Queenslanders Strategy is underpinned by the 23 fundamental human rights legislated in the Queensland Human Rights Act of 2019. Human rights aren't exactly easy talking points, and we shouldn't need a university education to know and understand our rights or protections in Queensland. Our rights to education and health services are vital to our futures, however a lot of people don't have an understanding of the protections available to them. Cultural rights profess peoples in Queensland were established to help protect respect and recognise the dignity of our young First Nations peoples.

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[Speaker 2] The rights affirming approach of this strategy recognises and reinforces the worth of every young person in Queensland. We are all deserving of respect no matter who we are or where we come from. This strategy acknowledges and celebrates that we're all different, each with a different story to tell. The strategy aims to reinforce and ensure the integrity of the rights of young people. These rights allow us to continue to tell our story without fear of being in danger. In this way our rights empower us to continue to be ourselves and pursue our passions with peace of mind.

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[Speaker 1] So Sam, what does empowerment mean to you?

[Speaker 2] I think in the scope of the Young Queenslanders Strategy empowerment is embodied really um by the co-design that we've had on it. Um, having young people make a strategy for young people is such an important aspect of what we've been doing here. Um ... it really allows for a lot of synergy between um what we've got going on obviously policy-wise with the government and how that can filter down into actionable change, positive change for young people.

[Speaker 1] The empowerment strategy is important to me, so that we can find a way for the government to help young people but also teach them how to help themselves and other young people in Queensland. So, for example, um having younger counselors instead of older counselors for young people in like, so instead of the older counselors like just shrugging them off, having younger people helping them can be more relatable to the problems they have. Um ...we can also have like ... the like ... mental health plans taught in schools instead of like only through like university or like TAFE, like it can also be taught to like say grade 10 and up so younger grades can come and ask for help to get through high school. And higher grades also have that like, they've been through what younger grades are going through and they can always like, again, relate to what they've been through and help them better.

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[Speaker 1] Alrighty! So, we've heard that this strategy is co-designed that um it's been written with young people ... what does that actually mean? So, co-design is defined in the strategy as respectfully and meaningfully working together with us the young people to develop this document. And so, what that actually means is that we have been involved from the very beginning. We've seen the strategy from the draft stages from when it was just a couple of dot points on a butcher's paper to being a fully realised document. And so, that's why it's really important, that's why it's so key for us to be involved in this co-design process. It means that this is a living, breathing document that young people have had specific input into. But so, Bri we talked about a lot about what co-design is ... what isn't it?

[Speaker 2] Thanks, Az. So, co-design is not the same as consultation. When we're making up new strategies for the government oftentimes, they want to consult with people who are pertinent to those strategies. For the Young Queenslanders Strategy that's young people between the age of 15 and 25. When we talk about consultation that means that we do a round table where our ideas are listened to, but it doesn't necessarily mean that they are acted upon. In a co-design model those ideas are worked in from the ground up. As a Youth Strategy Engagement Group, we had input we had input into the way that the strategy was communicated, the way the way that it was written, the questions that would be asked of young people, the way those young people would be asked those questions, and how all that would be communicated in videos like this one. When we have co-design, it means that we're intentionally collaborating from the get-go, instead of just listening so that we can say we listened for the sake of it.

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